Switchless Sensing for Electronic Devices Used with Deterrent Devices

ABSTRACT

Switchless sensing is provided to control electronic devices of the type associated with deterrent devices.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

N/A

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to electronic devices of the type used with gripmounted devices such as firearms and other deterrent devices.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

It is increasingly common for the users and manufacturers of firearmsand other deterrent devices to want to combine their deterrent deviceswith electronic systems that provide information and assistance usefulin operating the deterrent device. Such electronic systems may offer aidin aiming, viewing, and illuminating a potential target area. Theseelectronic systems may be incorporated into a deterrent device or may bemounted or otherwise mechanically joined to the deterrent device aftermanufacture.

A long standing problem that the designers of electronic systems anddeterrent devices that incorporate such electronic systems have faced isthat of how to activate electronic systems. It will be appreciated thatdeterrent devices are conventionally gripped by one or both hands of auser and that the primary purpose the action of gripping the deterrentdevice is to aim and use the deterrent device to effectively deter anattack. Accordingly it is valuable for the electronic device to activatein a manner that does not require a user to change his or her grip.

One approach to meeting this challenge is to provide activation surfacesthat are proximate to where the hands of a user are positioned whengripping the deterrent device. However, deterrent devices themselves mayrequire user actions beyond gripping the firearm and have control,access and actuation surfaces that are positioned so that they can bequickly and easily reached by a user gripping the deterrent device.Accordingly, there can be few opportunities to provide activationsurfaces for electronic devices in locations that can be convenientlyaccessed by hands that are also at least in part gripping the gripsurfaces of the deterrent device.

There have been several different mechanisms proposed for activating theelectronic aiming device used with a deterrent device to provide rapidactivation of an electronic aiming device when the firearm is grasped.Controlled activation of an electronic aiming system has been providedby providing electronic activations switches with activation surfacesthat are alongside and forward of a trigger guard. In suchcircumstances, a user grasping the deterrent device with a finger in asafe position alongside the trigger but not in the trigger guard mayactivate the aiming device. Additionally, in some types of electronicaiming systems, a portion of an activation surface may overlap a portionof a trigger guard or trigger well area and be activated as a user putshis or her finger into the trigger guard or trigger well area. Thisallows a user to control whether the electronic aiming device isactivated and when grasping the deterrent device. This arrangement canbe found popular electronic laser aiming devices such as the Unimax lineof aiming lasers sold by LaserMax, Inc., Rochester, N.Y., USA.

Alternatively, the action of gripping the deterrent device can be usedto activate electronic devices. Typically, this is accomplished bypositioning a switch on a surface of a gripped portion of a deterrentdevice. For example, as is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.8,256,154, entitled Laser gunsight system for a firearm trigger guard, asighting device has a body having an first portion including anillumination device. The body has an engagement feature to join thefirst body portion to a trigger guard of a firearm. The body has anelongated extension portion that extends from the first portion. Theextension portion is shaped to underlie a lower portion of the triggerguard from the first portion to the front strap. The extension portionhas a free end including a switch, and the extension portion includes aconductor operably connecting the switch to the illumination device. Auser who is trained to do so can grip the firearm so that one of theuser's fingers applies sufficient force against the switch to activatethe switch. This allows such a trained user to combine the actions ofgrasping the firearm and activating the illumination device.

In another alternative, it has been known to use electrical conductivityof the hands of a user as part of a switch. In examples of this type,adjacent electrical contacts or plates are provided on a portion of agun that will be gripped or otherwise contacted. For example, a weaponand flashlight combination known as the Night Pistol was used in Germanyduring the 1940 s. The Night Pistol was a customized Luger pistol thatincluded a flashlight with two brass plates on the grip. The brassplates were separated by an insulator and connected to the flashlight sothat when a user's hand closed about the grip, the hand provided anelectrical path between the brass plates to activate the flashlight.This approach has the advantages of not requiring any particularpressure at a particular location on the firearm and of not requiring aspecial gripping motion.

More recent versions of this approach are described in U.S. Pat. No.9,328,994, entitled Flexible Switch for Laser Gun Sight and U.S. Pat.Pub. 2016/0209171, entitled Flush Switch for Handgun Accessory. In the'994 patent, a handgun mounted laser sight is combined with atrigger-guard mountable switch having flexible connections thataccommodate various different geometries of handgun frames. The flexibleconnections terminate at one end at the laser sight and at the other endat a pair of individual conductors are electrically insulated from eachother but exposed and arranged so that a finger of a hand gripping thefirearm will bridge the individual conductors to provide an electricalpath between the exposed ends effectively closing a switch that includesthe hand of the user. When this switch is closed the laser sightactivates. In the '171 application efforts are made to, for example,embed the individual conductors within an external housing of the laserso that generally only the exposed ends of the individual conductors areexposed to activating contact.

One challenge created by the '994 patent and the '171 publication isthat they leave conductors exposed to elements so that contact with anyconductor, including but not limited to water can activate the lasersight or flashlight. Further, such approaches may not activate when theuser has a gloved hand, when there are insulating contaminants on thehand or the conductors that prevent an electrical connection.Additionally, such exposed conductors can be subject to damage throughincidental contact.

Additionally, both the approach of providing a complete switch on agripped portion of the firearm and positioning conductors to form aswitch with the hand create further challenges in that there must be afinger or other portion of the hand at the precise locations necessaryto establish contact with the mechanical switch or the electricalcontacts. It will be appreciated that a slight movement of a hand orfinger after contact has been made has the potential to cause the lightor laser controlled by the switch to deactivate.

What is needed therefore is a new approach to activating electronicsthat are associated with deterrent devices such as firearms that allowsa user to activate the electronics without the distraction associatedwith using special amounts of force or contact at special locations,that allows rapid and unimpeded gripping of a deterrent device, yet isfree of the difficulties associated with using exposed conductors andthe need to maintain precise placement of a hand against suchconductors.

One effort to meet this need is found in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2015/0184978entitled Gun Holster and Electronic Accessory which generally describesincorporating a magnetic detector into an electronic aiming device thatcan be used to sense a magnet in a specially designed or modifiedholster for the deterrent device. In this approach, when the deterrentdevice is in the holster, the magnetic detector detects a magnetic fieldof the magnet and deactivates the electronic aiming device. However,when the deterrent device is drawn from the holster, magnetic detectordetects the absence of the magnetic field provided by the holster magnetand activates the electronic device automatically.

It will be appreciated that this approach requires specially modifiedholsters as well as carrying a holster with a magnet that may erase ormodify signals recorded on magnetic media such as magnetically readablestripes of the types found on credit cards and identification badges.Additionally, it will be appreciated that many users of deterrentdevices do not keep such devices holstered but rather position them inother locations such as in small bedside gun safes or other locationswhere a magnetic driven action may not be appropriate.

What is needed therefore is an alternative direction for providing rapidand automatic activation of electronic aiming systems and otherelectronic devices for use for deterrent devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Deterrent devices, electronic devices for use with a deterrent devicesand sensing systems are provided. In one aspect the electronic devicehas a housing with a mounting portion joinable to the deterrent deviceto position a conductive surface relative to a sensing space where apart of the body of the user of the deterrent device is expected to befound when using the deterrent device; an electronic system, anexcitation system connected to the conductive surface and adapted tocause a time varying electric field to be created about the firstconductive surface and a capacitance sensing circuit adapted to sensecapacitance between the conductive surface and the capacitance sensingcircuit. A control system is connected to the capacitance sensingcircuit and adapted to detect changes in the sensed capacitance andadapted make decisions about the operation of the electronic systemelectronic system based upon the detected changes. An insulator preventselectrical conduction between the body of the user and at least one ofthe conductive surface and the capacitive sensing circuit. The electricfield extends through the insulator into the sensing space so that thepresence of the part of the body in the sensing space will change thesensed capacitance.

In another aspects, electronic devices for use with a deterrent deviceare provided. The electronic device has a housing with a mountingportion joinable to the deterrent device to position a first conductivesurface relative and a second conductive surface relative to a sensingspace where a part of the body of the user of the deterrent device isexpected to be found when using the deterrent device, an electronicsystem, an excitation system connected to the conductive surface andadapted to cause a time varying electric field to be created about thefirst conductive surface and the second conductive surface; and acapacitance sensing circuit adapted to measure a capacitance between thefirst conductive surface and the second conductive surface. A controlsystem connected to the capacitance sensing circuit and adapted makedecisions about the operation of the electronic system based upondetected changes in the capacitance between the first conductive surfaceand the second conductive surface. An insulator preventing electricalconduction between the body of the user and at least one of the firstconductive surface and the second conductive surface. The electric fieldextends through the insulator into the sensing space so that thepresence of the part of the body in the sensing space will change thecapacitance measured between the first conductive surface and the secondconductive surface.

In still other aspects, deterrent devices are provided having adeterrent system adapted for user control, an electronic system toassist the user in using the user controlled deterrent system and ahousing with a mounting portion joinable to the deterrent system toposition a first conductive surface relative to a sensing space where apart of the body of the user of the deterrent device is expected to befound when controlling the deterrent system, an excitation systemconnected to the conductive surface and adapted to cause a time varyingelectric field to be created about the first conductive surface; and acapacitance sensing circuit adapted to sense capacitance between theconductive surface and the capacitance sensing circuit. A control systemis connected to the capacitance sensing circuit and adapted to detectchanges in the sensed capacitance and adapted make decisions about theoperation of the electronic system electronic system based upon thedetected changes; and an insulator preventing electrical conductionbetween the body of the user and at least one of the conductive surfaceand the capacitive sensing circuit. The electric field extends throughthe insulator into the sensing space so that the presence of the part ofthe body in the sensing space will change the sensed capacitance.

In still other aspects, deterrent devices are provided having adeterrent system adapted for user control and an electronic system toassist the user in using the user controlled deterrent system, a housingwith a mounting portion joinable to the deterrent device to position afirst conductive surface relative to a sensing space where a part of thebody of the user of the deterrent device is expected to be found whencontrolling the deterrent device, an excitation system connected to theconductive surface and adapted to cause a time varying electric field tobe created about the first conductive surface and the second conductivesurface, and a capacitance sensing circuit adapted to measure acapacitance between the first conductive surface and the secondconductive surface and a control system connected to the capacitancesensing circuit and adapted make decisions about the operation of theelectronic system based upon detected changes in the capacitance betweenthe first conductive surface and the second conductive surface. Aninsulator prevents electrical conduction between the body of the userand at least one of the first conductive surface and the secondconductive surface. The electric field extends through the insulatorinto the sensing space so that the presence of the part of the body inthe sensing space will change the capacitance measured between the firstconductive surface and the second conductive surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial cut-away side elevation of one example of adeterrent device;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the deterrent device of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate, respectively, front and top views of thedeterrent device of FIG. 1 as gripped by a hand of a user.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an electronic device.

FIG. 5 illustrates the embodiment of Fig. with a second outer surfacegenerally removed from view.

FIG. 6 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 4 with a first outer surfaceremoved from view.

FIG. 7 shows a front, top, left side isometric view of the electronicdevice of the embodiment of FIG. 4 mounted to a deterrent device.

FIG. 8 shows a front, top, right side isometric view of electronicdevice of the embodiment of FIG. 4 mounted to deterrent device.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of a deterrent device with an embodiment of anelectronic device joined thereto having one embodiment of a switchlesssensing system with a sensing space.

FIG. 10 shows a capacitance model of the embodiment of switchlesssensing system of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a view of a side of the deterrent device and electronicdevice shown in FIG. 9 and gripped by a hand.

FIG. 12 shows a capacitance model of the embodiment of FIG. 9 with ahand in the sensing space.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of a deterrent device with an embodiment of anelectronic device joined thereto having another embodiment of aswitchless sensing system with a sensing space.

FIG. 14 shows a capacitance model of the embodiment of switchlesssensing system of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 shows a view of a side of the deterrent device and electronicdevice shown in FIG. 13 and gripped by a hand.

FIG. 16 shows a capacitance model of the embodiment of FIG. 13 with ahand in the sensing space.

FIG. 17 shows a side view of a deterrent device with another embodimentof an electronic device joined thereto having another embodiment of aswitchless sensing system with a sensing space.

FIG. 18 shows a capacitance model of the embodiment of switchlesssensing system of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 shows a view of a side of the deterrent device and electronicdevice shown in FIG. 17 and gripped by a hand.

FIG. 20 shows a capacitance model of the embodiment of FIG. 17 with ahand in the sensing space.

FIGS. 21A, 21B, 21C and 21D illustrate respectively top, side crosssection, bottom and a pad end elevation views of one embodiment of afirst conductor, first conductive surface, second conductor and secondconductive surface formed using an insulative material which in thisembodiment is a flexible film.

FIG. 22 is a back, left side top isometric view of an embodiment of anelectronic device having the embodiment of FIGS. 21A, 21B, 21C and 21D.

FIGS. 23A and 23B illustrate an embodiment of an electronic devicehaving a switchless sensing system incorporated into a grip of adeterrent device.

FIGS. 24A and 24B illustrate another embodiment of an electronic devicehaving a switchless sensing system incorporated into a grip of adeterrent device.

FIG. 25 illustrates another embodiment of an electronic device having amodular embodiment of a switchless sensing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate respectively one non-limiting example of aprior art deterrent device 10 taking, in this example, the form of afirearm 10. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate, respectively, front and topviews of a deterrent device as gripped by a hand 4 of a user. FIGS. 4, 5and 6 show an embodiment of an electronic device 50 for use with afirearm type of deterrent device 10 and FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrates theembodiment electronic device 50 of FIG. 4 cooperatively mounted todeterrent device 10.

For purposes of description, and unless stated otherwise, the term“longitudinal” L means the dimension along the direction of barrel 25.The term “width” W means the dimension along a direction transverse toan axis of barrel 25. The term “axial” A means the dimension along adirection transverse to the axis of barrel 25. The term “forward” meansnearer to or towards a muzzle 26. The term “rearward” means further fromor away from the muzzle 26. The term “below” means lower than, in theintended operating orientation of deterrent device 10. The term “above”means higher than, in the intended operating orientation of deterrentdevice 10. The term “preclude movement” means to substantially precludemovement which would otherwise prevent functioning in an intendedmanner. The term “angular” means rotating about at least one of thelongitudinal and axial directions.

Deterrent device 10 has a deterrence system 20 including which generallycan be anything that might present a risk of physical consequences andthat might deter an attack. Deterrence system 20 can be a projectilelauncher which can be, but is not limited to, a pistol, a rifle,shotgun, revolver or other form of firearm, a cross-bow, a compressedair weapon, a chemical irritant disperser, a non-lethal projectilelauncher, or a directed energy weapon such as device that emits a sonic,optical or electrical discharge alone or in combination with aprojectile. Such as deterrence system 20 may include any other devicethat may be likely to cause a person confronted with such a personwielding a deterrent device 10 to be less likely to engage in anaggressive act.

In this embodiment, deterrent device 10 has frame 12 with a grip 14 thatholds a magazine (not shown) that contains a number of rounds ofammunition (not shown). The ammunition is spring biased in a directiontoward a reciprocating firing chamber 22. Reciprocating firing chamber22 (also referred to as a slide) is slidably mounted to frame 12.Cartridges from spent rounds are ejected through ejection slot 15 whenthe reciprocating chamber 22 moves to the left or backward under recoilaction following discharge. A barrel 25 extending from the reciprocatingchamber 22 is connected to the pistol frame 12 via a take-down latch 36.

Disposed beneath reciprocating chamber 22 is a recoil chamber 23. Withinrecoil chamber 23 is a recoil spring guide rod 33. A recoil spring 32,guide rod 33, extends between an apertured projection 24 ofreciprocating chamber 22 at one end of recoil chamber 23 and an annularseat 35 of guide rod 33 at the other end of recoil chamber 23.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the embodiment of deterrent device 10 of FIG. 1showing various gripping surfaces. As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2deterrent device 10 has a first side grip 40 opposing a second side grip42, and a rear grip 44 opposite a front grip 46.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate respectively a front and top view of adeterrent device 10 gripped by a right handed user. As is seen here,such a right handed user will wrap a thumb 43 of right hand 4 aroundside grip 42 and a palm 45 and non-trigger fingers 47 of right hand 4will wrap against rear grip 44, and side grip 40 and onto front grip 46.For enhanced accuracy, many right handed users are trained to raisetheir left hand against deterrent device 10 so that a palm of the lefthand cups grip 14 and side grip surface 42. It will be appreciated fromthis that the maintenance of such a two-handed a grip makes itinconvenient to manipulate controls of such an electronic device 50.

Grips 40, 42, 44 and 46 may be at least partially provided with someform of surface relief pattern such as, diamond, stripes, or pyramidalcut patterns illustrated in FIG. 2. These surface relief patternsenhance the ability of a user to grip deterrent device 10 by providingincreased friction between deterrent device 10 and the hand(s) of theuser. Additionally, such surface relief patterns provide channels intowhich substances that may be on the hand of the user can flow duringgripping of deterrent device 10 so as to allow a clean contact betweendeterrent device 10 and at least a portion of the hand(s) of the user.Other known grip types and shapes can be used.

Firing of deterrent device 10 is accomplished by inserting a triggerfinger 5 into trigger well 34 within a trigger guard 18 and pullingtrigger 38 toward rear grip 44. A threshold amount of pull force isrequired in order to draw trigger 38 to a position where deterrentdevice 10 discharges. The amount of pull force that is required is setat a level that is sufficient to avoid inadvertent discharge ofdeterrent device and is typically on the order of around one or morekilograms of pull force.

FIGS. 4-8 illustrate a first embodiment of an electronic device 50. Asis shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, electronic device 50 is anaiming light and laser combination however this is not limiting exceptwhere claimed as such. In this embodiment electronic device 50 has ahousing 60 is provided in two mating parts: a first housing portion 60 aand a co-designed second housing portion 60 b having respectively afirst outer surface 61 a and a second outer surface 61 b respectively.FIG. 5 shows electronic device 50 with second housing portion 60 bgenerally removed from view while FIG. 6 illustrates electronic device50 with greater detail and with housing portion 60 a generally removedfrom view. FIG. 7 shows a front, top, left side isometric view ofelectronic device 50 mounted to a deterrent device 10 and FIG. 8 shows afront, top, right side isometric view of electronic device 50 mounted todeterrent device 10.

As is shown in FIGS. 4-8, housing 60 has an engagement portion 62 thatis adapted to mechanically associate electronic device 50 with deterrentdevice 10. In this embodiment, engagement portion 62 has an innermounting surface 64 and an outer mounting surface 66 that are shaped ina manner that generally conforms to a shape of a trigger guard ofdeterrent device 10. A first portion 64 a of inner mounting surface 64,a first portion 66 a of outer mounting surface 66, and a first outerwall 68 a are provided by first housing portion 60 a while a secondportion 64 b of inner mounting surface 64, a second portion 66 b ofouter mounting surface 66, and a second outer wall 68 b are provided onby second housing portion 60 a. This arrangement allows electronicdevice 50 to be mechanically associated with firearm 10 by assemblinghousing portions 60 a and 60 b with engagement portion 62 positionedabout trigger guard 18 and with other components of electronic device 50positioned therein.

While electronic device 50 is shown as having a housing 60 thatmechanically engages trigger guard 18 of firearm 10, this is notlimiting. It will be understood that electronic device 50 can becooperatively engaged with any portion of firearm 10 and may beincorporated into components or elements of firearm 10 including but notlimited to frame 12, grip 14, and trigger guard 18 or a slide, barrel,chassis, foregrip or sight. For example and without limitation, housing60 may engage a mounting rail or any other features on a firearm 10 towhich external devices may by mounted. In embodiments engagement portion62 may comprise a component of deterrent device into which electronicdevice 50 or a component thereof is joined or integrated. Unlessotherwise expressly stated or claimed herein, electronic device 50 isnot limited by the function of electronic device 50 or a mechanism usedfor engaging firearm 10.

It is understood that in other embodiments housing 60 can be formed as asingle integral component or from a multitude of interconnectedcomponents.

It has been found satisfactory to injection mold housing 60 out of apolymer such as a glass-filled nylon and particularly a nylon 6.6compound reinforced with 33% glass fiber; suitable for processing byinjection molding, wherein the material is lubricated for ease of moldrelease. However, other materials including but not limited to carbonfiber materials, other plastics, metals such as aluminum, titanium,steel and others ferrous or non-ferrous metals can be used.

Housing 60 holds an electronic system 100 for use with deterrent device10. Electronic system 100 assists the user of deterrent device 10 whenusing deterrent device 10. The assistance can take the form of providingany type of electronically controlled assistance or help that may beuseful in the operation of deterrent device 10. In embodiments this maytake the form of providing aiming assistance, communication, weaponstabilization, targeting information, image enhancement, locationinformation, direction information, shot counting, shots remaining, atargeting reticle, aiming and targeting information, presenting imagesto the user containing information which may include a visualinformation including but not limited to a video display such as an LCD,OLED, reflective, emissive, holographic display or a scope withelectronic display that presents images in visible wavelengths of lightthat have been captured in wavelengths of light that are not readilyvisible to a human eye, such as at ultraviolet, near-infra red, mid-waveinfrared and long wave infrared wavelengths of light. In embodiments theassistance may take the form of activating a transponder in theelectronic device or providing video or audio communications, capturingimages, video and or audio. In still other embodiments, the assistancemay take the form of determining and or providing information about thestatus of the deterrent device such as rounds remaining, safetyactivation status, and any other information useful in operatingdeterrent device 10. In further embodiments, the assistance may take theform of pre-activating or activating supplemental deterrent devices suchas non-lethal deterrents such as chemical or other deterrent emittersprovided in device 10. It will be appreciated that these embodiments arenot limiting.

In this embodiment, electronic system 100 provides aiming assistance andillumination and in this embodiment includes a power supply 110, anelectronic system 100 including in this embodiment a laser module 120and an illumination light system 130, a sensor system 140 and a controlsystem 150. In other embodiments electronic system 100 may take otherforms including but not limited to image capture devices, holographicsights, heads up displays, scopes and sensor packages including but notlimited to sonic sensors, orientation sensors, chemical sensors,electromagnetic field sensors or radiological sensors, or any other kindof portable electronic system of any type or purpose that may be desiredto provide to assist a user of a deterrent device 10 in using thedeterrent device.

In this embodiment, housing 60 has an opening 70 through which laserlight emitted by laser module 120 can exit from housing. Similarly,housing 60 also includes an opening 72 through which light fromillumination light system 130 may exit from housing 60. Optionally,housing 60 may have an opening or port 74 with a connector therein thatallows optical or electrical signals to be supplied to control system150 for purposes including but not limited to providing energy torecharge power supply 110 or power to operate electronic device, tocommunicate with control system 150 during programming or customizationoperations, or providing data or sensor signals that may be used forpurposes including but not limited to integrating operation ofelectronic device 50 with other electronic devices, communicating withother electronic devices and the like.

Optionally, an optical element 76 may be positioned in opening 70.Optical element 76 can be used to reduce or prevent contaminant fromentering into housing 60 through opening 70. In embodiments, opticalelement 76 may have no optical power or optical element may be used, forexample and without limitation, to condition, filter, polarize, aim orto influence an extent of focus, an extent of collimation and/or anextent of divergence of light passing through optical element 76.Similarly, an optical element 78 may be positioned in opening 72.Optical element 78 may be used to reduce or prevent contaminant fromentering into housing 60 through opening 72. In embodiments, opticalelement 78 may have no optical power or optical element may be used, forexample and without limitation, to condition, filter, polarize, aim orto influence an extent of focus, an extent of collimation and/or anextent of divergence of light passing through optical element 78.

Power supply 110 can include batteries, either rechargeable ordisposable, fuel cells, or other forms of portable energy storage andsupply and any circuits or systems and interconnections necessary toprovide power to operate laser module 120, illumination light system130, sensor system 140 and control system 150. In the embodimentillustrated, power supply 110 uses batteries 112 and, optionally, mayuse power conditioning circuits boost circuit, step up circuits, andstep down circuits.

In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, power supply 110 maybe housed and/or otherwise disposed anywhere where power supply 110 canbe reliability positioned relative to housing 60. Power supply 110 maybe external to housing 60 as noted above provide power to operateelectronic device 50 for example by way of port 74.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, power supply 110 has abattery holder shaped to receive batteries 112 within housing part 60 bwhile housing part 60 a provides an opening 116 with a door 118 that canbe accessed to allow replacement of batteries 112 housing part 60 a fromelectronic device 50.

Laser module 120 includes a laser for selectively emitting a beam ofradiation, such as coherent radiation, along an optical axis. Dependingon the construction of laser module 120 and housing 60, laser module 120may provide opening 70 and optical element 76.

It is understood that laser module 120 may be a commercially availableassembly and may be operably connected to power supply 110 and controlsystem 150 shown in FIGS. 4-6. In one embodiment laser module 120 mayinclude a red laser at 650 nm with an output power of 3.5 to 5.0 mW whenpowered by power supply 110 using for example one or more 3 volt lithiumbatteries. It is understood the laser in the laser module 120 can be anyof a variety of lasers such as, but not limited to infrared lasers,lasers emitting at 532 nm; 635 nm or 850 nm.

In an exemplary embodiment, laser module 120 may comprise, for example,one or more of a green laser, a red laser, an infrared laser, aninfrared light emitting diode (“LED”), a white and colored LED, a laserhaving an output of approximately 5 mW (it is understood that lasershaving an output greater than approximately 5 mW or less thanapproximately 5 mW may also be used), and a short wavelength infraredlaser (“SWIR”). It is understood that a SWIR may emit a signal, beam,pulse, and/or other radiation having a wavelength of between,approximately 0.9 μm and approximately 2.5 μm. In other embodimentslaser module 120 may emit coherent light at other wavelengths including,but not limited to, infrared wavelengths between 2.5 nm and 20 nm andultraviolet wavelengths below 500 nm and may for example use laseremitters such as CO2 lasers and quantum cascade lasers or ICC lasers tocreate emissions in these wavelengths.

Illumination light system 130 provides a system with an light emitterand driving circuitry adapted to cause the light emitter to emit a lightthat may have a greater divergence than the light emitted by lasermodule 120 so as to provide some ability to perceive the environmentaround a point where the laser is emitted. Illumination light system 130may take the form of an incandescent, fluorescent, semi-conductor, ororganic article or mechanism that emits light when supplied withoperating energy and activated by control system 150.

For example, illumination light system 130 may include a light emittingdiode that emits, for example, coherent or incoherent light. Such lightmay be in the visible wavelengths such as between about 390 and 700 nmand it may be outside of such visible wavelengths such that theillumination light must be observed or detected using imagers ordetectors appropriate for sensing light in such wavelengths andequipment for converting such light into visible wavelengths that can beobserved. Illumination light system 130 may also include other systemssuch as reflectors to reflect light out of opening 72, optical element78, thermal management systems such as materials and systems that moveheat away from a light emitter to other parts of electronic device 50,into deterrent device 10 or into an environment surrounding electronicdevice 50.

Sensor system 140 includes any form of device that senses a condition atthe electronic device 50 and that provides a signal that can be used indetermining operation of electronic device 50. In the embodimentillustrated, sensor system 140 includes for example and withoutlimitation switches 142 a and 142 b. Switches 142 a and 142 b areconnected respectively to buttons 80 a and 80 b which are resilientlybiased to project through openings 84 a and 84 b in housing portions 60a and 60 b. In operation a user can depress either of buttons 80 a and80 b such that one of switches 142 a or 142 b transitions from a firststate to a second state. This change of state can be sensed by controlsystem 150 in making decisions in terms of operating electronic device50. Sensor system 140 can contain any number of additional sensors, suchas light sensors, imagers, chemical sensors, radio frequency or othersensors may also be provided as orientation sensors, accelerometers,thermal sensors, voltage sensors, and any other sensor system that maybe useful in electronic device 50. Other forms of user input systems mayalso be provided in sensor system 140. Sensor system 140 also includes aswitchless sensing system 200 that will be described in greater detailbelow.

Control system 150 is connected to the power supply 110, receivessignals from sensor system 140 and determines whether and optionally howlaser module 120 and illumination light system 130 are to operate. Inthe embodiment illustrate control system 150 is shown to include acontrol board 152 on which components forming a control circuit 154 areprovided. Control circuit 154 may have a general purpose processorpre-programmed with instructions in an internal or external memory.Control circuit 154 may also take the form of programmable analog logicdevice or discrete component systems. In embodiments control circuit 154may include circuits or systems or customized software for the purposeof driving laser module 120 or illumination light system 130. Such drivecircuits may be operable to define duty cycles, intensities, pulsewidths, pulse times, pulse shapes of the light or laser emitted byelectronic device 50. Either of sensor system 140 or control system 150may also include drive circuits or programming adapted to drive, poll orotherwise obtain or receive signals from sensor system 140.

Turning now to FIG. 9 what is shown is a side view of a deterrent device10 with an embodiment of electronic device 50 mounted thereto toillustrate one embodiment of the operation of an electronic device 50having a switchless sensing system 200. In the embodiment of FIG. 9,switchless sensing system 200 includes a housing 60 that is associatedwith deterrent device 10 and that positions a first conductive surface212 relative to a sensing space 280.

An insulator 300 is positioned between first conductive surface 212 andsensing space 280. In general, insulator 300 prevents objects andmaterials from making electrically conductive contact with firstconductive surface 212. In this embodiment insulator 300 comprises aportion of housing 60 and provides physical barrier that blocks movementof finger 6 or other matter toward first conductive surface 212 at aposition that is separated from first conductive surface 212. In otherembodiments, insulator 300 can permit physical contact between finger 6or other matter while preventing electrical conduction with firstconductive surface.

An excitation source 250 and a capacitance sensing circuit 260 areconnected to first conductive surface 212 optionally by way of a firstconductor 210. During capacitance measurements, excitation source 250 isused to create a time varying electric field 270 at first conductivesurface 212 while capacitance sensing system 260 is used to measurecapacitance between first conductive surface 212 and capacitance sensingsystem 260. In FIG. 9 and elsewhere herein, the time varying electricfield 270 is conceptually illustrated as extending in all directionsabout first conductive surface 212 and is shown as having a generallyconsistent size. The perimeter illustrated is intended to be suggestiveof a perimeter of electric field 270 beyond which an intensity of theelectric field 270 drops below a predetermined threshold level. Aselectric field 270 is time varying during measurements such a perimetermay be larger or smaller at different times.

First conductive surface 212, capacitive sensing system 260 andinsulator 300 are arranged relative to each other, such as by being atpositioned, sized, shaped or arranged relative so that when excitationsource 250 causes electric field 270 about first conductive surface 212,first conductive surface 212 extends through insulator 300 to createsensing space 280 where a hand or other body part of a user of deterrentdevice 10 is expected to be positioned when gripping or otherwise usingdeterrent device 10. In this embodiment, sensing space 280 is positionedproximate to grip 14 of deterrent device 10 and sized so that at leastone finger 6 a hand 4 of a user gripping deterrent device grip 14 willbe positioned within sensing space 280.

FIG. 10 provides a model for understanding the measurement ofcapacitance by capacitance sensing system 260. In this model, excitationsource 250 and capacitance sensing circuit 260 can be understood to havea capacitance C1 relative to a ground G such as earth ground. In themodel of FIG. 10 first conductive surface 212 similarly can also beunderstood to have a capacitance relative to ground G shown in FIG. 10as C2. Additionally, ground G can be understood conceptually to serve tocomplete a circuit including excitation source 250, first conductivesurface 212, a capacitor having the circuitry capacitance C2, throughcircuit capacitance C1 to capacitance sensing circuit 260. Accordingly,a capacitance measured by capacitance sensing circuit 260 can beapproximated by the following equation:

$C_{t} = \frac{1}{\frac{1}{C\; 1} + \frac{1}{C\; 2}}$

In this model, C_(t) is the total capacitance measured, C1 is acapacitance between capacitance sensing circuit 260 and ground G and C2is a capacitance between first conductive surface 212 and ground G.

As is shown in FIG. 11, when deterrent device 10 is gripped by a hand 4of a user, a trigger finger 5 is positioned adjacent the trigger guard18 and a finger 6 wraps around and under trigger guard 18 proximate toinsulator 300, bringing at least finger 6 into sensing space 280.

As is shown in FIG. 12, the human body is a relatively good conductorand provides an additional path to ground G that includes, in series, acapacitance formed between first conductive surface 212 and finger 6shown here as C3 and a capacitance between body 8 of the user and groundG shown here as C4. Additionally, there will be a capacitance betweenbody 8 and capacitive sensing circuit 260 that is shown here as C5.

The total capacitance measured C_(t) in this model principally thereforeis a measure of these five capacitors in series and parallel thereforethe total capacitance can be approximated by:

${Ct} = {\frac{1}{\frac{1}{C\; 1} + \frac{1}{C\; 2}} + \frac{1}{\frac{1}{C\; 3} + \frac{1}{\frac{1}{\frac{1}{C\; 4} + \frac{1}{C\; 1}} + {C\; 5}}}}$

It will be appreciated from this that the introduction of a fingercreates additional capacitances as capacitances C3, C4 and C5 that causea measurement of the circuit including first conductive surface 212 tobe different than a measurement made at a time when no finger is presentand only capacitances C1 and C2 are present, this is particularly truein that capacitances C3 and C4 are typically substantially higher thanC1 and C2.

The capacitance measurement can be made using a number of methods. Inone embodiment, excitation source 250 uses a current source to applytime varying current to first conductive surface 212 to create adifference of potential or voltage across the circuit between firstconductive surface 212 and other electrically connected components ofswitchless sensing system 200 and any other components electricallyconnected thereto. A capacitance is determined by capacitance sensingcircuit 260 based on a change in the voltage that results from theapplied current over time.

In another embodiment, excitation source 250 uses a voltage source toapply time varying voltage to first conductive surface 212 to inducecurrent flow in the circuit between first conductive surface 212 andother electrically connected components of switchless sensing system 200and any other components electrically connected thereto. A capacitanceis determined by capacitance sensing circuit 260 based on a change inthe current that results from the applied voltage over time.

In embodiments, excitation source 250 may supply current or voltageusing a sinusoidal, ramp, saw-tooth, or other periodic wave pattern orany other time varying pattern.

In embodiments, excitation source 250 may charge first conductivesurface 212 through a known impedance, for example and withoutlimitation, through a 10M Q resistor that is connected to a voltagesource while capacitance sensing circuit 260 determines how much time ittakes for the supplied charge to create a predetermined voltage betweenfirst conductive surface 212 and the circuit. In one example, thisvoltage may comprise a fraction of an applied voltage such as between 40and 66.6% of the applied voltage. In embodiments, an amount of timerequired for an amount of current being supplied by excitation source250 to charge first conductive surface 212 as the voltage between firstconductive surface 212 and ground G ramps up toward a predeterminedvoltage may also be used as in indication of the capacitance. Inembodiments, other methods for measuring capacitance or conditionsindicative of capacitance may be used by capacitance sensing circuit260.

In the event that deterrent device 10 and associated electronic device50 are holstered or otherwise stored when not in use, the holstermaterial or material in areas surrounding switchless sensing system 200may provide capacitances that are substantially different than thosesensed when deterrent device 10 and associated electronic device 50 areholstered or stored. Here too, for example, it is possible todiscriminate between the presence of a finger in sensing space 280 andthe presence of a holster material in sensing space 280 in that commonholster materials such as leather, fabrics and plastic materials such asnylon, polyester, polycarbonates, and other synthetics will not providethe same impact on a measured capacitance as a finger will provide.Similarly it may be possible to discriminate between the presence of afinger in sensing space 280 and other materials proximate to deterrentdevice 20 and electronic device 50 when stored.

In view of this, capacitance measured by capacitance sensing circuit 260will be substantially different when a human finger is present insensing space 280 than when no human finger is present and that byproviding capacitance signal indicative of the sensed capacitance,capacitance sensing circuit 260 enables control system 150 to makedecisions about activation or control of deterrent device 10 without theneed for a switch to sense the presence of a finger and without thecomplications and problems that flow from such switching.

Control system 150 receives the capacitance measure signal fromcapacitance sensing circuit 260 and determines whether the signal isindicative of a capacitance value that is within a range of values thatis associated with the presence of a finger in sensing space 280. Whenthe signal is within the range of values associated with fingerpresence, control system 150 can activate electronic system 100 which,in this embodiment, involves activating laser module 120 andillumination light system 130. In operation control system 150 can forexample and without limitation cause switchless sensing system 200 tosense periodically, the capacitance between first conductive surface 212and control circuit 260 for example and without limitation at a rateabout between 0.02 and 2 seconds. In embodiments, the sensing period canchange dynamically, such as where a more frequent sampling is doneduring periods of activation.

Alternatively, control system 150 can use a comparison function,comparing a currently read signal or an average of several currentlyread signals to immediate past signals or an average of many pastsignals and can determine when to activate or take other control actionsbased upon a relative change in capacitance from an initial state to asecond state. Additionally activation or control determinative functionsor algorithms may be used to detect patterns of changes in capacitancethat are indicative of activation or other control behavior. So calledartificial intelligence algorithms may also be applied by control system150 to capacitive signals received by control system 150 to determinewhether a finger is present in sensing space 280.

In embodiments, control system 150 can be adapted to receive informationfor use in determining thresholds, functions or other data useful inmaking activation or other control decisions. For example, as notedabove, storage conditions for different uses of a deterrent device mayvary widely. Some deterrent devices may be stored indoors in gun safesor the like for long periods of time until needed for example to deter ahome invasion and control system 150 while others may be carried inexternal holsters and exposed to the elements. The capacitivecharacteristics sensed in each type of storage may be different. Inembodiments, control system 150 stores data that helps to characterizestorage conditions so that more accurate discrimination between aholstered or stored condition and a grasped or use condition can bemade. In embodiments, control system can automatically measurecapacitance when deterrent device 10 and associated electronic device 50are not in use such as when deterrent device 10 is in storage and canassociate certain capacitance measurements with storage conditions. Thisassociation can be used to adjust comparison modes, thresholds,functions, algorithms or other decision making logic. Similarly, controlsystem 150 can use measurements of capacitances made during use ofdeterrent device 10 and an associated electronic device 150 as well ascapacitance measurements made during known transitions to refine modes,thresholds, functions, algorithms or other decision making logic toparticular circumstances. In this way, it becomes possible for controlsystem 150 to better adapt predetermined algorithms so that moreaccurate activation and de-activation and other decisions regardingoperation are made.

When control system 150 determines that a finger is present in sensingspace 280, control system 150 can activate or take other control actionsrelative to electronic system 100. In the embodiment of FIGS. 9-12,activation of laser module 120 and illumination light system 130 isperformed and in this embodiment control system 150 is illustrated beingconnected to laser module 120 and illumination light system 130 by wayof electrical connections 81 and 83 which act to simultaneously activateboth laser module 120 and illumination light system 130. This isoptional, and as is illustrated elsewhere herein, electrical connectors81 and 83 provide separate electrical paths that enable individualcontrol of laser module 120 and illumination light system 130.

In embodiments, electronic device 50 may have an switchless sensingsystem 200 that includes first conductive surface 212 and one or moreadditional first conductive surfaces. Such an additional firstconductive surface may be connected to excitation source 250 andcapacitance sensing system 260 so that it can be used in creating anadditional electric field and an additional sensing space which may bepositioned apart from a sensing space 270 associated with firstconductive surface 270 when excited by excitation source 250. In suchembodiments, capacitive sensing system 260 is adapted to measurecapacitance between such an additional conductive surface and capacitivesensing system 260. Control system 150 can be the adapted to controloperation of electronic system 100 based upon at least one of thecapacitance measured in the sensing space and any capacitance measuredin any additional sensing space.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of a deterrent device 10 with an embodiment ofan electronic device 50 joined thereto having another embodiment of aswitchless sensing system 200 with a sensing space 280. As isillustrated in FIG. 13, in this embodiment switchless sensing system 200has a first conductive surface 212 and a second conductive surface 222.First conductor 210 and a second conductor 220 are positioned by housing60 and are maintained in a spaced relation relative to each other andhave an electrically insulative material such as insulative material 230therebetween. As is also shown in FIG. 13, first conductor 210 iselectrically connected to first conductive surface 212 and secondconductor 220 is electrically connected to second conductive surface222.

Conductive surfaces 212 and 222 are positioned generally proximate toand may be generally in parallel with each other and are separated by anelectrically insulative material 232. Such an insulative material 232may be the same as or different than insulative material 230 and maycomprise, for example, materials characterized as electrical insulators.Insulative materials having predetermined dielectric properties andresisitive properties may be used for insulative material that ispositioned between first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222. In general, it is preferred that insulative material 230preclude meaningful conductive flow of charge from first conductivesurface 212 to second conductive surface 222.

In this embodiment, first conductor 210, second conductor 220,insulative material 230, first conductive surface 212, second conductivesurface 222 and insulative material 232 are arranged so that acapacitance measured between first conductor 210 and second conductor220 is defined principally by the capacitance between first conductivesurface 212 and second conductive surface 222 with any parasitic orother capacitance between first conductor 210 and second conductor 220being minimized to the extent that is possible and practicable.Accordingly, for the purpose of FIG. 13, (and in other embodimentsherein) discussion of parasitic capacitance between first conductor 210and second conductor 220 will be omitted.

As is shown in FIG. 13, in this embodiment, switchless sensing system200 has an excitation source 250 that is electrically connected to firstconductor 210 and to second conductor 220 by way of a capacitancesensing circuit 260. In operation, excitation source 250 periodicallycreates a difference of potential between first conductive surface 212and second conductive surface 222.

First conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222 areshaped and spaced so that when excitation source 250 generates adifference of potential between first conductive surface 212 and secondconductive surface 222 an electric field 270 forms. Electric field 270includes a direct field directly between first conductive surface 212and second conductive surface 222 (not shown) and an electric field 270extending between first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222 in directions other than directly between first conductivesurface 212 and second conductive surface 222.

In operation, a capacitance measurement indicative of a capacitancebetween conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222 is madewhen excitation source 250 creates a changing electric field betweenfirst conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222 andcapacitive sensing system measures the induced current, which can bedone using methods described above for example.

FIG. 14 provides a model for understanding the capacitance measured bycapacitive sensing circuit 260. In this embodiment, excitation source250 and capacitance sensing circuit 260 can be understood to be a partof a circuit including first conductor 210, first conductive surface212, second conductor 220 and second conductive surface 222 and in thisembodiment the total measured capacitance Ct will generally equal acapacitance C1 between first conductive surface 212 and secondconductive surface 222.

Capacitance C1 between first conductive surface 212 and secondconductive surface 222 is dependent on many factors, including theshapes of first conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface222, an extent of separation between first conductive surface 212 andsecond conductive surface 222 and the dielectric properties of the spacebetween and surrounding first conductive surface 212 and secondconductive surface 222. In general, assuming a parallel plate model ofcapacitance, total capacitance between first conductive surface 212 andsecond conductive surface 222 increases with the area of the plates suchas the area of first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222, and decreases to the extent of separation between firstconductive surface 212 and the second conductive surface 222.Additionally capacitance is proportional to the permittivity of thematerial between first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13 mutual capacitance attributable to directfields will be based in part on the dielectric properties of thematerials in the space between first conductive surface 212 and secondconductive surface 222. In FIG. 13, this space is illustrated as beingcompletely occupied by insulative material 232. Accordingly, thecontribution of direct fields to the mutual capacitance between firstconductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222 in thisembodiment, this does not change substantially and accordingly thedirect capacitance will fall within a generally predictable range overtime.

However, in this embodiment electric fields which extend through spacesother than the space directly between first conductive surface 212 andsecond conductive surface 222 may pass through a number of differentmaterials each having different dielectric, conductive and capacitiveproperties each having the potential to influence the electric field andthe total capacitance measured between first conductive surface 212 andsecond conductive surface 222.

As is shown in FIG. 13, in this embodiment, switchless sensing system200 has an excitation source 250 that is electrically connected to firstconductor 210 and to second conductor 220 by way of a capacitancesensing circuit 260. For example, as is shown in the FIG. 13, electricfields 270 pass through areas of space near first conductive surfacethat include many different materials with different dielectricproperties, such as, portions of housing 60 and insulative material 230,trigger guard 18. Here too, the dielectric properties of housing 60,insulative material 230, trigger guard 18 and any other materialsthrough which electric fields pass may influence the capacitancemeasured between first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222.

Additionally, as is also shown in FIG. 13 electric field 270 passesthrough insulator 300 into areas adjacent to the exterior of deterrentdevice 10 or housing 60 such as sensing space 280 which in FIG. 13 isshown having air within.

Accordingly, where deterrent device 10 and electronic device 50 aremechanically associated as is illustrated in FIG. 13, a measuredcapacitance between first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222 will be determined based upon the dielectric properties ofhousing 60, insulative material 230, trigger guard 18, and whatevermaterial is in sensing space 280.

In general, dielectric properties of trigger guard 18, housing 60, andinsulative material 230, and/or deterrent device 10 will remaingenerally constant or within predetermined ranges over time and theirrespective contributions to overall capacitance measured between firstconductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222 will remainwithin these predetermined ranges over time.

However, sensing space 280 is outside of housing 60 and accordinglymaterials present in sensing space 280 may change and such changes caninteract with electric field 270 in ways that have a pronounced impacton the total capacitance Ct of a circuit including first conductivesurface 212 and second conductive surface 222. Such a change may beparticularly pronounced when a conductive object is inserted intosensing space 280 and interacts with electric field 270 to impact thetotal capacitance Ct measured in a circuit that includes firstconductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222.

For example, as is shown in FIG. 15, when deterrent device 10 is grippedby a hand 4 of a user, a trigger finger 5 is positioned adjacent totrigger guard 18 and a finger 6 wraps around and under trigger guard 18and insulator 300, bringing finger 6 into sensing space 280. Finger 6 isa conductor that electrically interacts with electric field 270.

FIG. 16 shows a model of this interaction. In this model the humanfinger acts as third conductive surface and can be modeled as creating afirst-conductive-surface-to-finger capacitor C2 and asecond-conductive-surface-to-finger capacitor C3 that are in parallelwith capacitor C1. Accordingly, a total capacitance measured C_(t) for acircuit that includes first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222 when a finger 6 is present includes two capacitors not foundin the circuit when finger 6 is not present—a capacitor C2 between firstconductive surface 212 and finger 6 and a capacitor C3 between secondconductive surface 212 and finger 6 such that the total measuredcapacitance is modeled as:

$C_{t} = {{C\; 1} + \frac{1}{\frac{1}{C\; 2} + \frac{1}{C\; 3}}}$

In this model Ct is the total measured capacitance, C2 is thecapacitance between first conductive surface 212 and finger 6, and C3 isthe capacitance between second conductive surface 212 and finger 6.

In operation, this embodiment of switchless sensing circuit 200 has acapacitance sensing circuit 260 that generates a capacitance signalindicative of the capacitance sensed. Control system 150 receives thecapacitance signal from capacitance sensing circuit 260 and determineswhether the signal is indicative of a capacitance value that is within arange of values that is associated with the presence of a finger insensing space 280. When the signal is within the range of valuesassociated with finger presence, control system 150 can activateelectronic system 100 which, in this embodiment, involves activatinglaser module 120 and illumination light system 130.

Control system 150 can for example and without limitation causeswitchless sensing system 200 to sense periodically, the capacitancebetween first conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222for example at a rate about between 0.02 and 2 seconds. In embodiments,switchless sensing system 200 can, for example, have a local controller(not shown in FIG. 15) that is adapted to periodically sense capacitanceoptionally excitation source 250 and capacitance sensing circuit 260 canbe adapted to periodically sense capacitance.

The shape and size of sensing space 280 can be defined in various ways.For example, a sensing space 280 can have a length determined in part bya length of the first conductive surface 212, a length of the secondconductive surface 222, and any lengthwise separation between firstconductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222. Similarlysensing space 280 can have a width determined in part by a width of thefirst conductive surface 212, a width of the second conductive surface222, and any widthwise separation between first conductive surface 212and second conductive surface 222. A depth of sensing space 280 may alsobe determined by a proximity of first conductive surface to insulator300 or other portions of housing 60 separating first conductive surface212 from sensing space 280. Additionally, the length, width and depth ofsensing space 280 can be determined in part based upon an intensity ofthe excitation signal.

In embodiments more than one first conductive surface 212 or more thanone pair of first conductive surfaces and second conductive surfaces canbe provided proximate to sensing space 280 to provide redundant sensingcapability, to provide spatial resolution of sensing within sensingspace 280, to shape sensing space 280, to extend the volume of sensingspace 280, or to enable, for example, additional functionality.Optionally, additional paired ones of second conductive surface 222 maybe provided for each of first conductive surface 212 or a single secondconductive surface 222 may be used.

In embodiments first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222 may be positioned so that the electric field extendspredominantly to one side of electronic device 50. This may be used toprevent false activations that might arise in cases where deterrentdevice 10 is positioned too closely to other parts of a human bodyduring holstering or transport. This approach is optional.

FIG. 17 illustrates another embodiment of electronic device 50 havinganother embodiment of an activation sensing system 200. In thisembodiment first conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface222 are arranged in a manner that is separated longitudinally such thatdirect capacitance is present to the comparatively limited extent thatit exists along adjacent edges of first conductive surface 212 andsecond conductive surface 222 while other electric fields extend inother directions between first conductive surface 212 and secondconductive surface 222 however excitation source 250 and capacitancesensing circuit 260 are connected to these in a similar as described inthe embodiment of FIGS. 13-16. This approach has can be used to createan electric field 270 with characteristics that are different than thoseof the electric field of FIGS. 13-16. In general, this longitudinalseparation of first conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface222 may have the effect of creating an electric field 270 with adifferent shape than the preceding embodiment. Additionally, thisarrangement may and allows a greater portion of the sensitivity ofcapacitance sensing circuit 260 to be dedicated sensing changes in thetotal measured capacitance caused by the intrusion of a finger or otherpart of a human hand into sensing space 280 by limiting the extent towhich direct fields between first conductive surface 212 and secondconductive surface 222 contribute to capacitance measured in a circuitincluding first conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface222.

In this embodiment, first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222 are formed and positioned, and switchless sensing system 200is operated so that electric field 270 extends through insulator 300into sensing space 280 and so that sensing space 280 is positioned suchthat when a user naturally grasps deterrent device 10, a finger 6 orother portion a hand 4 is positioned in sensing space 280 as is shown inFIG. 17.

As is shown in FIG. 18, in general the total measured capacitance Ctbetween first conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222in the circumstances depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10 will be equal to thecapacitance C1 between first conductive surface 212 and secondconductive surface 222.

As is shown in FIG. 19, when deterrent device 10 is gripped by a hand 4of a user, a trigger finger 5 is positioned adjacent the trigger guard18 and a finger 6 wraps around grip 14 under trigger guard 18 andproximate to insulator 300, bringing finger 6 into sensing space 280where conductive finger 6 interacts with electric field 270.

FIG. 20 shows a model of this interaction. In this model the humanfinger acts as third conductive surface and can be modeled as creating afirst-conductive-surface-to-finger capacitor C2 and asecond-conductive-surface-to-finger capacitor C3 that are in parallelwith capacitor C1. Accordingly, a total capacitance measured C_(t) for acircuit that includes first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222 when a finger 6 is present includes two capacitors not foundin the circuit when finger 6 is not present—a capacitor C2 between firstconductive surface 212 and finger 6 and a capacitor C3 between secondconductive surface 212 and finger 6 such that the total measuredcapacitance is modeled as:

$C_{t} = {{C\; 1} + \frac{1}{\frac{1}{C\; 2} + \frac{1}{C\; 3}}}$

In this model Ct is the total measured capacitance, C2 is thecapacitance between first conductive surface 212 and finger 6, and C3 isthe capacitance between second conductive surface 212 and finger 6.

Here again, there will be a significant difference between the totalmeasured capacitance Ct where the capacitance is determined only basedupon capacitor C1 and when the capacitance is based upon capacitors C1,C2 and C3. Control system 150 can use these differences to determine anactivation or other control function for electronic system 100.

In the above embodiments, it will be appreciated that housing 60 has ainsulator 300 that in these embodiments is positioned by housing 60 tobe separate from inner wall 66. Here insulator 300 is shown as a solidwall however in other embodiments there are other possibilities. Betweeninner wall 66 and insulator 300, is a conductor pathway 310 that extendsin part between excitation source 250, capacitance sensing system 260and a portion of pathway 310 that is proximate to sensing space 280.Insulator 300 in this embodiment prevents physical contact between ahand 4, or finger 6 of a user and first conductive surface 212 andsecond conductive surface 222 so that no part of a hand (or any otherbody part) can create an electrical short between first conductivesurface 212 and second conductive surface 222. Insulator 300 can also beprovided in a manner that substantially prevents water, or any otherthing from making an electrical short between first conductive surfaceand second conductive surface. In embodiments, first conductive surface212 and second conductive surface 222 can be overcoated with a sealantor be formed within a protective encasement to protect or to furtherprotect against materials, objects or contaminants causing or enablingan electrical short between first conductive surface 212 and secondconductive surface 222.

FIGS. 21A, 21B, 21C and 21D illustrate respectively top, side crosssection, bottom and a pad end elevation view of one embodiment of afirst conductor 210, first conductive surface 212, second conductor 220and second conductive surface 222 formed using an insulative material230 which in this embodiment is a flexible film 230. As is shown in thisembodiment, a first conductor 210 extends along a top surface ofinsulative material 230 from a connection end 214 to a via 216, throughvia 216 to first conductive surface 212. Similarly a second conductor220 extends along a bottom surface of insulative material 230 from aconnection end 214 to a gap 228 that electrically insulates secondconductor 220 from first conductor 210. Gap 228 can comprise an air gapor gap 228 can be filled with an insulative material to generallyprevent an electrical short across gap 228. FIG. 22 illustrates oneexample of the embodiment of first conductor 210, first conductivesurface 212, second conductor 220 and second conductive surface 222formed using an insulative material 230 and installed within a pathway310.

The embodiment of FIGS. 21A-21D and in FIG. 22, can in one embodiment bestamped in a pattern using a film of insulative material 230 having asingle conductor 290 on a bottom side. Where this is done, via 216 canbe etched or cut through insulative material 230 to expose a top surfaceof the bottom conductor and gap 228 can be etched, cut, or otherwiseremoved to separate single conductor 290 into a first portion 290 a anda second portion 290 b. Gap 228 can optionally filled with an insulativematerial or allowed to stand as an air gap to electrically insulate afirst portion 290 a extending generally from connection end 224 from asecond portion 290 b extending from gap 228 to generally a pad end 218.First conductor 210 can then be formed on an upper surface of insulativematerial 230 from a connection end 214 through via 216 and into anelectrical connection with a top surface of second portion 290 b. Inthis embodiment first portion 290 a forms second conductor 220 andsecond conductive surface 222 while second portion 290 b forms at leastfirst conductive surface 212 and optionally may form at least a part offirst conductor 210. In this way a single shaped conductor/insulatorfilm or sheet can be used to form a first conductor 210, firstconductive surface 212, second conductor 220 and second conductivesurface 222.

Optionally the embodiment of FIGS. 21A-21D and FIG. 22 can also be usedto provide only a first conductive surface 212 such as may be useful inthe embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 9-12.

It will be appreciated that in other embodiments one or more of firstconductor 210, second conductor 220, first conductive surface 212 andsecond conductive surface 222 can be any conductive component of adeterrent device including for example a trigger guard, slide lock,trigger, handle, frame, rail, barrel, slide or any other electricallyconductive component of deterrent device 10 and can include combinationsof conductive components including but limited to consumables andpackaging for consumables used in deterrent device 10.

For example and without limitation, an electronic device 50 may beincorporated within a guide rod 33 that is mechanically connected to oneor more components of a pistol or other type of deterrent device 10using such a guide rod. In still other embodiments, housing 60 may inpart comprise a component of or be positioned within or on a deterrentdevice 10 that is gripped by a user during operation, including but notlimited grips, foregrips, forearms, magazines, frames and handles.

For example FIGS. 23A and 23B illustrate a side schematic view and afront view of an electronic device 50 having a housing 60 in the form ofa grip 400 for use with a revolver type deterrent device 10. As is shownin FIGS. 23A and 23B, in this embodiment grip 400 has two housing parts410 a and 410 b that are assembled to deterrent device 10 by way of afastener 420 that extends through an opening in housing part 410,through a portion of frame 12 of deterrent device, to mating threadspositioned on housing part 410 b. Other forms of attachment can be used.

In this embodiment, housing part 410 a has a power supply 110, a lasermodule 120, a sensing system 140 and a control system 150. Sensingsystem includes a switchless sensing system 200 with a first conductor210, a second conductor 220, a first conductive surface 212 and a secondconductive surface 222 which collectively operate as is generallydescribed above to create an electric field 270 that extends outside aninsulator 300 shown here as a portion of housing 60 such that a sensingspace 280 is created in an area proximate to but apart from firstconductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222 in which thepresence of a finger of a user can be sensed on the basis of changes incapacitance in sensing space 280 that does not require contact betweenthe conductive surfaces 212 and 222 and a finger.

FIGS. 23A and 23B illustrate first conductive surface 212 and secondconductive surface 222 positioned on grip housing part 410 a which isarranged to position first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222 so that they are within a grip housing part 410 a such thatfrontal outer surface 430 provides a insulator 300. As is also shown inthis embodiment, first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222 are provided under a trigger guard 18 so that when either aleft handed person or a right handed person grips deterrent device 10 afinger will be positioned within sensing space 280. In this embodiment,a seam 422 between first grip housing part 410 a and second grip part410 b is shown having the optional feature of extending in part past amidline of deterrent device 10 for the purpose of extending firstconductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222 past themidline of deterrent device 10 so that sensing space 280 can extend overthe midline as well. However in embodiments sensing space 280 maydefined to detect a finger passing under trigger guard 18 either fromthe left or the right side and may do by defining an electric field 270that can sense the presence of such a finger without the expedient of amidline extension.

FIGS. 24A and 24B illustrate an embodiment of a grip combination havingan alternative location of sensing space 280 positioned on a rearportion of grip 414 a, to create a sensing space 280 proximate to anupper rear portion of deterrent device 10 where a palm of a right handedperson or a of a left handed person will wrap around deterrent device10. This too provides an a sensing space 280 at a location that will besensitive to both a right handed and a left handed grip. It will beappreciated that in this embodiment, only a single conductive surface212 is used. However, it will be appreciated that embodiments ofswitchless sensing system 200 having only a first conductive surface 212and embodiments of switchless sensing system 200 may be used in any formor packaging of switchless sensing system 200. It will be appreciatedthat components illustrated on grip portion 414 a may be located on gripportion 414 b and elsewhere on grip 14 of deterrent device 10.

In embodiments switchless sensing system 200 may be provided in amodular form with switchless sensing system 200 having a firstconductive surface 212 or having a first conductive surface 212 and asecond conductive surface 222, an excitation source 250, a capacitancesensing circuit 260. A modular switchless sensing system 200 can beprovided as an aftermarket product for integration with existingelectronic devices that are adapted for integration with such productsand that are for example of the type used with deterrent devices or canbe modularly designed to substitute for components of, to be insertedinto, or to be integrated by otherwise modifying existing electronicdevices useful with deterrent devices.

For example in FIG. 25 an electronic device 50 is shown joined to a rail610 of a cut away portion of a deterrent device 10. In this embodimenthaving a port 74 that is adapted to receive signals from which a controlsystem 150 can make decisions regarding activation of electronic system100. In this embodiment, a modular embodiment of switchless sensingsystem 200 is shown having a housing part 60 a with an engagementportion 602 for engaging port 74 in a way that allows signals to passbetween capacitive sensing system 260 and control system 150 and can beadapted to provide signals in a manner are useful to processor 150 inmaking decisions such as signals at levels and in forms that otherdevices that engage port 74 are designed to provide. As is shown here,first conductor 210 extends outside of housing part 60 b to a housingpart 60 a which positions first conductive surface 212, and optionally,second conductive surface 222 (not shown in this embodiment) so that anelectric field 270 can be provided in a sensing space 280. In thisembodiment electronic device 50 and housing part 60 b are mounted,fixed, assembled, joined or otherwise mechanically associated with rails610 and 620 of deterrent device 10. Optionally, housing part 60 a canalso be mounted, fixed, assembled, joined or otherwise mechanicallyassociated to rail 610. In this embodiment optional power supply 630 isillustrated in housing part 60 a so that it is not necessary to supplypower from electronic device 50 to operate switchless sensing system200. Also shown in the embodiment of FIG. 19 is an optional processor640 is provided to adapt or convert or otherwise process signals fromcapacitance sensing circuit 260 for use by control system 150. Inembodiments, housing part 60 a can be adapted to replace an existingremovable component of electronic device 50 and optional processor 640to directly control some aspect of the operation of electronic device 50based upon the switchless sensing of objects in sensing space 280.

It will be appreciated from embodiments herein that sensing functionscan be provided at positions apart from the electronic system 100 to beactivated or otherwise controlled based upon the switchless sensing ofchanges in sensing space 280. Additionally, it will be appreciated thatin embodiments, conductors can be positioned inside or outside of ahousing of an electronic system 100, modular switchless sensing system200 or deterrent device 10.

In embodiments, more than one sensing space 280 can be provided on oneor both of grip housing parts 410 a and 410 b or on multiple places on adeterrent device 10. For example sensing spaces 280 can be provided onboth the locations illustrated in FIGS. 23A and 23B and in 24A and 24Bto provide redundant sensing. Additionally, sensing spaces 280 can beprovided separately on grip housing part 410 a and 410 b and positionedto sense the presence of a right handed palm and a left handed palmrespectively.

Other locations are possible. In embodiments one or more sensing spacesmay be provided at any of a number of positions on a deterrent device 10with one or more component of deterrent device 10 serving as a contactbarrier 60. In one non-limiting example, an additional conductivesurface can be positioned apart from first conductive surface 212 andsecond conductive surface 222 with excitation system 250 exciting theadditional conductive surface relative to one of the first conducticesurface 212 and the second conductive surface 222 to create anadditional electric field between the at least one of first conductivesurface 212 and second conductive surface 222, with capacitive sensingcircuit 260 measuring an additional capacitance between the additionalconductive surface and the at least one of the first conductive surfaceand the second conductive surface 222. In such an embodiment, controlsystem 150 may make decisions regarding the operation of electronicdevice 50 based upon at least one of the measured capacitance betweenfirst conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface 222 and themeasured additional capacitance.

In embodiments, insulator 300 may be omitted allowing, for example,direct contact with first conductive surface 212 and capacitance sensingsystem 260. Similarly, in embodiments, using a second conductive surface222, direct contact with both of a first conductive surface 212 and asecond conductive surface 222 may not be blocked by an insulator 300.

However, in such embodiments control system 140 does not activate ormake other control decisions based upon sensing direct contact ormaintaining direct contact with both of a first conductive surface 212or second conductive surface 222. Instead, as is described above, thepresence of a hand or finger anywhere within the sensing space 280, asindicated by a change in capacitance, is the condition that is used bycontrol system 150 when making decisions as to whether to activate ormaintain activation of electronic device 50. Further, it will beappreciated that changes in capacitance indicative of the presence of afinger will occur well before a finger makes contact with either offirst conductive surface 212 or second conductive surface 222 such thata determination as to whether to activate electronic system 200 can bemade as finger enters sensing space 280 which, in turn, can occur wellbefore contact is made with first conductive surface 212 or secondconductive surface 222 in such an embodiment. Additionally, in suchembodiments, a separation of contact between a finger and firstconductive surface 212 or second conductive surface 222 is notdeterminative of decisions to deactivate electronic system 200. Instead,in this example deactivation is based upon a presence or absence of apart of a body of a user of a deterrent device within sensing space 280.Further, such shorting events will be associated with unique electricalsignatures and such signatures may be filtered or ignored by capacitancesensing system 260 from electrical signals provided to control system150 or can be detected and ignored by control system 150. However, itwill be appreciated that as described and claimed herein, activation,deactivation and other decisions are made by control system 150 arebased upon changes in capacitance measures and not based or maintainedbased upon such shorting.

Additionally, sensing space 280 may include an activation portionproximate to the insulator 300 and a deactivation portion separated frominsulator 300 by the activation portion. In one embodiment of this typesensed capacitances within a first range may be associated with theactivation portion while sensed capacitances within a second range maybe associated with the deactivation portion. In such embodiments,control system 150 may be adapted to activate electronic system 100 thecapacitance in sensing space 280 is within a range of values thatindicates that a part of a hand that grips the deterrent device is inthe activation portion. However, in such embodiments, control system 150may be further adapted to activate, deactivate or make other decisionsabout operating electronic system 100 when, within a predeterminedperiod of time, the sensed capacitance changes in a manner thatindicates that a part of a hand that grips the deterrent device has leftthe activation portion and is in the deactivation portion. Optionallysensing space 280 may also include a buffer portion between theactivation portion and the deactivation portion with the control system150 being adapted to activate electronic system 100 when the capacitancesensed in sensing space 280 indicates that within a predetermined periodof time a part of a hand that grips the firearm has left the activationportion and the buffer portion and is then detected in the deactivationportion. In embodiments, separate conductive surfaces can be providedfor sensing one or more of a multi-portion sensing space 280.

It will be understood that any illustrations of an electric field 270 asillustrated herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating theconcept that electric fields formed about first conductive surface 212or about and between portions of first conductor 210 and secondconductor 220 at first conductive surface 212 and second conductivesurface 222 may include electric fields 270 that extend through ainsulator 300 such that sensing of a change in capacitance can occurwithout necessarily directly exposing first conductive surface 212 orsecond conductive surface 222 to contact with external matter orobjects. The exact shape or size of an electric field 270 generated in aparticular application will depend upon characteristics of theexcitation signal, characteristics of the conductors, the conductivesurfaces 212 and characteristics of the materials occupying spacethrough which the field lines pass. Accordingly, the shapes illustratedfor electric field 270 used to herein are not limiting unless otherwisestated or claimed herein. Further it will be understood that any suchdrawings or discussion describes an electric field as it exists in aparticular moment in time and that such fields may change duringexcitation or when alternating current is used.

For example, it will be understood that the total measured capacitancebetween first conductive surface 212 and capacitive sensing circuit 260or between first conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface222 depends in part on the dielectric properties of the materialssurrounding first conductive surface 212 and second conductive surface222 and that the exact shape of electric field 270 arising in a givenimplementation may or may not have the shapes provided here.Additionally it will be appreciated that the lines used to illustrateelectric field 270 are not intended to suggest that exact borders areprovided for an electric field. Rather electric fields diminish inintensity as a function of distance from the source and detection of andextend in a continuum as distance from a source increases. However,there are distances at which the intensity of the electrostatic fielddiminishes to a point where interactions are difficult to detect in areliable fashion as against background noise and such may serve aspractical limitations for an electric field having a predeterminedintensity.

Further it will be understood that unless otherwise stated herein thedrawings provided are not necessarily to scale.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

1-24. (canceled)
 25. A device, comprising: a housing; a conductivesurface mounted on the housing; an excitation source; at least oneprocessor; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediastoring computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the atleast one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform actscomprising: causing, at a first time, the excitation source to generatea first electrical field around the conductive surface; receiving firstinformation indicative of a first capacitance value detected at theconductive surface; determining that the first capacitance value is lessthan a predetermined threshold; causing, at a second time, theexcitation source to generate a second electrical field around theconductive surface; receiving second information indicative of a secondcapacitance value detected at the conductive surface; determining thatthe second capacitance value is greater than the predeterminedthreshold; and sending, based at least in part on determining that thesecond capacitance value is greater than the predetermined threshold, aninstruction to an accessory device communicatively coupled to thedevice, the instruction causing the accessory device to perform anaction.
 26. The device of claim 25, wherein the predetermined thresholdis associated with capacitance values that are indicative of a body partof a user being within a predetermined distance of the conductivesurface.
 27. The device of claim 25, wherein the device is configured tocouple to at least one of a grip, a trigger guard, a barrel, a chassis,a mounting rail, a sight, or a foregrip of a deterrent device.
 28. Thedevice of claim 25, wherein the action comprises at least one of:illuminating a light element; emitting a chemical deterrent; providingaiming assistance; providing location information; presenting a display;providing stabilization information; providing video communication;providing audio communication; or capturing images.
 29. The device ofclaim 25, wherein the second information is received during a firstsample period characterized by a first sampling frequency, the actsfurther comprising receiving, at a third time, third informationindicative of a third capacitance value detected at the conductivesurface during a second sampling period characterized by a secondsampling frequency, the second sampling frequency being greater than thefirst sampling frequency.
 30. The device of claim 25, wherein theconductive surface comprises a first conductive surface, the devicefurther comprising a second conductive surface, and the acts furthercomprising receiving, at the second time, third information indicativeof a third capacitance value detected at the second conductive surface,wherein the instruction is sent based at least in part on the thirdcapacitance value.
 31. The device of claim 30, wherein the firstconductive surface is separated from the second conductive surface by anelectrically insulative material.
 32. The device of claim 25, wherein:causing, at the first time, the excitation source to generate the firstelectrical field comprises causing the first electrical field to supplya first voltage or a first current to the conductive surface; andcausing, at the second time, the excitation source to generate thesecond electrical field comprises causing the second electrical field tosupply a second voltage or a second current to the conductive surface.33. A device comprising: a housing; a conductive surface mounted on thehousing; an excitation source; at least one processor; and one or morenon-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executableinstructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causethe at least one processor to perform acts comprising: causing theexcitation source to generate an electrical field around the conductivesurface, the electrical field having a magnitude that varies over time;receiving data associated with a capacitance value detected at theconductive surface, the capacitance value indicating a change incapacitance within the electrical field; determining that thecapacitance value is within a range of capacitance values, the range ofcapacitance values being indicative a body part of a user being disposedwithin the electrical field; and sending, based at least in part ondetermining that the capacitance value is within the range ofcapacitance values, an instruction to an accessory device to perform anaction.
 34. The device of claim 33, the acts further comprising:receiving data associated with an additional capacitance value, theadditional capacitance value indicating an additional change incapacitance within the electrical field; determining that the additionalcapacitance value is outside the range of capacitance values; andsending, based at least in part on determining that the additionalcapacitance value is outside the range of capacitance values, anadditional instruction that causes the accessory device to refrain fromperforming the action.
 35. The device of claim 33, wherein receiving thecapacitance value occurs during a first sample period characterized by afirst sampling frequency, the acts further comprising receiving a secondcapacitance value during a second sampling period characterized by asecond sampling frequency, the second sampling frequency being greaterthan the first sampling frequency.
 36. The device of claim 33, the actsfurther comprising: receiving data associated with a second capacitancevalue detected at the conductive surface, the second capacitance valueindicating a second change in capacitance within the electrical field;and determining, based at least in part on the capacitance value and thesecond capacitance value, an updated range of capacitance valuesassociated with the body part of the user being within the electricalfield.
 37. The device of claim 33, wherein the accessory devicecomprises at least one of a sight, a lighting element, a laser, adisplay, or a camera attached to a deterrent device.
 38. The device ofclaim 33, the device further comprising a second conductive surface, andthe acts further comprising receiving data associated with an additionalcapacitance value detected at the second conductive surface, and whereinsending the instruction is further based at least in part on theadditional capacitance value.
 39. The device of claim 38, wherein astrength of the electrical field is based at least in part on at leastone of: one or more first dimensions of the first conductive surface;one or more second dimensions of the second conductive surface; adistance from the first conductive surface to the second conductivesurface; a voltage generated by the excitation source; or a currentgenerated by the excitation source.
 40. A method comprising: causing anexcitation source to generate an electrical field around a conductivesurface of a first device, wherein an intensity of the electrical fieldvaries with time; receiving data associated with a capacitance at theconductive surface, the capacitance being generated based at least inpart on an object being within the electrical field; determining thatthe capacitance is greater than a threshold capacitance; and sending aninstruction to a second device to perform an action.
 41. The method ofclaim 40, wherein: the first device is configured to mount to adeterrent device; and the second device is an accessory to the deterrentdevice.
 42. The method of claim 40, wherein the electrical field isassociated with a sensing space in which the object generatescapacitances that are greater than the threshold capacitance.
 43. Themethod of claim 40, further comprising: receiving additional dataassociated with an additional capacitance at the conductive surface;determining that the additional capacitance is not greater than thethreshold capacitance; and sending an additional instruction that causesthe second device to refrain from performing the action.
 44. The methodof claim 40, wherein the action comprises as least one of: illuminatinga light element; emitting a chemical deterrent; providing aimingassistance; providing location information; presenting a display;providing stabilization information; providing video communication;providing audio communication; or capturing images.